2008 Spring Newsletter - About Globe Spinners

About Globe Spinners A Quarterly Newsletter on FOI Adoptions from China Spring 2008
Although this story is fictional, certain elements have been borrowed from
historical fact. Below are some interesting details about this period in
China’s long and fascinating history.
The Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty: Tai Tsung
The Tang Dynasty began on June 18 in the year 618 and ended Emperior Tai Tsung was Meet the Fuwa – the discover the Beijing
alsoknown as Li Shih-min. Beijing Olympics mascots Olympic sports symbols
Family Outreach International Issue No 43 Printed July 2008 1(613)789-8677 foi@canada.com www.familyoutreach.com
June 4, 907. It followed the Sui Dynasty and came before the Five
Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. The Tang Dynasty was He was born in the year Thirty-five
interrupted briefly between October 16, 690 and March 3, 705 by 597 and died in 649. In Chinese culture, an affectionate figures that
the Second Zhou Dynasty (under Wu Zetien’s rule). Tai Tsung was considered way of calling children is by evoke images of
by many to be one of the doubling a syllable in their name. ancient Chinese
Costumes from the Tang Dynasty greatest emperors of The Olympic mascots who are characters were
China. He was said to be depicted as playful children have designed as
very intelligent, brave been given names such as icons to identify
and open-minded--- “Beibei” and“JingJing” If you say the Olympics sports such
although he also had their names together: “Bei Jing as wrestling, soccer,
many faults and was by Huan Ying Ni”, you are saying fencing and so on.
many accounts a brutal “Beijing welcomes you”.
politician. Tai Tsung’s
most significant deeds
as emperor included
better trade routes into
India and Persia, creating
a strong central government and making communication
08 – 08 – 08
Li Yuan, whose family was part of the military elite during the Sui systems across the country more efficient.
Dynasty, founded the Tang Empire after the former collapsed. Li
Yuan ruled until the Empire was taken over by his son, Tai Tsung Kao Tsung
in the year 626. Kao Tsung was born in 628 and died in 683. He
During the Tang Dynasty the nation’s first census was taken became emperor upon his father’s death in 649 but
which reported the population to be about 80 million people. This ruled only briefly. He became paralysed from a
period was also marked by a modernized legal system and well- stroke in 655, enabling his wife, Wu Zetien, to take
organized government. It was also considered a positive time for control of the empire.
the working classes who benefited from lowered taxes and other Wu Zetien
forms of support. The Tang emperors were influenced by Wu Zetien ruled ... and experience Olympic
Buddhism, which became popular during this period. unofficially from celebrations expressed as art
655. She officially
became the first Snow
empress of China
in 690 and rule
until her death in
705. She is
credited with
reducing the
power of the
military and the
aristocracy (the wealthy class) and introducing a
requirement for government officers to pass
exams prior to joining the public service. She
greatly improved the status of women and the
peasantry (the poorer class), increased public
services and established Buddhist hospitals.
She was regarded by many as a great leader
Recreation at the statue of Buddha losana in Luoyang, central but, as with Tai Tsung, was a powerful force
China of the Buddha-worship ritual performed by Wu Zetien that many dared not cross.
Young AUTHORS Corner Globe Spinners
Tai Tsung’s Court
Chapter 9: Homeward Bound
Adopting Ruby Having saved the royal throne from the clutches of the Emperor’s evil brother, the tired and homesick
time-travellers use the magic globe to return home.
My name is Chelsea. I am eight years old. I was adopted from China when I was 10
months old. I also have a sister who was adopted from China two years later. Her Grace took a deep breath and waited for the now After a short but heated debate over who should hold
name is Averie, she is six years old and is lots of fun. A few years later, my mom said familiar dizzy feeling to fade. “Ok, so not the easiest on to the globe for safekeeping, Grace reluctantly
she would be adopting another Chinese girl and that she would be a Special Needs agreed to leave the piece at her cousins’ house. She
way to travel,” she said faintly.
baby. When I heard this I felt excited that there would be another member in the knew Clarke and Martine were right. She would not be
family. My mom decoded to call our new baby Ruby Joy. My mom explained that it Grace watched her two cousins as they too recovered
able to resist the temptation to tamper with it at home
would be a long time until she would be leaving. from the effects of the journey through space and time.
and trying to sneak it past her aunt and uncle AND her
Clarke held his head seemingly in an effort to keep it
More months passed and my mom started getting pictures of our new little sister. I own parents could be risky.
soon found that the handicap that my sister had was that she was born without ears! I from spinning, while Martine winced and hugged her
stomach. After accepting a ride home with her aunt, Grace
was amazed! She also had a cleft palate. This is a hole in the roof of the mo0unth.
walked quickly through the front door of her home. She
When I saw the first A few minutes passed before anyone spoke.
passed her father in the living room reading a
pictures of Ruby I Chelsea, Averie & Ruby “Did that all really happen?” said Martine, breaking the newspaper. “Hi dad,” she said calmly, trying to hide
thought she looked a Cheel
Chelsea Cheel silence. “Or did we just wake up from some kind of her excitement over recent events.
little strange. I thought mega real dream?”
St Catharines ON living with a girl “Hi Gracie,” her dad replied. “How was your visit with
without ears would not “No. It happened,” answered Grace. “It really Clarke and Martine?”
be comfortable. After happened.”
“Good,” said Grace heading down the hall to her room.
some more months Grace and Martine turned to look at Clarke who had “You know, same old stuff.”
passed my mom just stood up. “Listen. We can’t tell anyone…and I
started packing her “Good. Good,” called her father as she left the room,
mean ANYONE about this,” Clarke instructed in the
suitcases with clothes his eyes still directed at the paper in front of him.
voice that usually meant ‘I’m the oldest and I’m in
and toys for the long Once in her room, Grace turned on her computer. She
charge’.
trip to China. My mom eagerly went online and entered “Wu Zetien” as the
asked my grandma “You’re right,” said Grace. “First, no one will believe us
search string. Selecting the first link that appeared,
and my granddad to and second, if anyone did, this little device could fall
Grace was not terribly surprised with what she read.
look after me and my into the wrong hands.”
sister for two whole
“But don’t you think we should at least tell our Wu Zetien, also known as Wu Hou or Wu Chao, was
weeks. I was very sad
parents?” suggested Martine. “This is pretty big. Too born into a wealthy and well-connected Chinese
when I had to say
goodbye to my mom. The taxi came and my mom got in to drive to the airport. My big for us to keep to ourselves.” family in the year 625. At the tender age of 14 she
granddad looked after me for the first few days and then my grandma looked after “No. Absolutely not!” shrieked Grace. “They get upset joined the Emperor’s court. When Wu Zetien was 27,
me. Living with my grandma was not easy but I got over it in no time. I had lots of fun when we cross the street on our own. They’d never let the Emperor, Tai Tsung, died and control of the
with my grandma. Over the week my Grandma took us many places one of the us use the globe again.” Empire passed to his son, Kao Tsung. Several years
places she took us to was to the library. There we got books and my grandma got us later, Wu Zetien married Kao Tsung, thus becoming
a treat. She got us chocolate milk! We had lots of fun.
“What?!” cried Clarke and Martine in unison.
“Are you crazy?” said Martine, her face unable to hide empress. When her husband become ill, Wu Zetien
Finally the day came to drive to the airport see my mom. We had to wait a long time. unofficially took power and continued to reign
But finally my mom came . I was so happy to see them both. Ruby did not look at all
the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
through her son after her husband’s death. The
like what I had thought, but she sure was cute. We talked and talked in the taxi on the “You mean you want to try this again? We barely made empress was officially named Emperor in the year
way home. Ruby was looking all around and we were all looking at her. When we got it back home this time. We may not be so lucky a 690, and became the first and only female to hold this
home we had a Welcome Home Party. We stayed up very late. second time,” Clarke said firmly. position.
Now Ruby has been in Canada for almost a year. It seems that we have had Ruby Grace knew when she couldn’t win an argument. It is said that Zetien credited her rise in power in part
forever. Ruby has new hearing aids. Ruby’s mouth has been fixed, and she has a “Alright. No plans to time-travel again for now. But we to the assistance of three foreigners from a distant
special Speech Therapist so she is learning to talk. Sometimes she is a pest but still can’t tell anyone, not even our parents. I don’t nation although neither the existence nor the identity
most of the time she is lots of fun. We love her a lot! know how they would react.” of these foreigners has ever been confirmed….

Life with our Special Needs baby is the best thing in the world. Ok. Agreed,” said Clarke.
“Grace and Clarke looked at Martine. Martine sighed.
“Alright. Agreed,” she said finally.
My Special Day
The Annual Photo When I was a baby, I was in an orphanage. The woman who adopted
me always dreamed of having a daughter, but could not. This woman’s
Roundup (con’t) name was Barbara June Ross. Barbara is now my mom!
When my new mom and I came back to Canada from China, there were
Ellie (4) Steele
The photos that didn’t so many people waiting for us at the airport! Everyone was holding
Victoria BC
presents for me! All these people were now my new friends and family.
make it into the When I got to my new home, I finally saw my new room. After a nice
Winter newsletter sleep, my mom took me to the park the next day. Then we went to a
friend’s house where I met Birgitta, Frida and Linnea. Linnea and I met
Isabella (16m) & Leah (5) Manuel by bumping into each other. Today I am 10 years old, I live with my
Toronto ON wonderful mommy and Linnea is STILL my friendi
Emma Ross (10)
I am so thankful to have a mom and caring friends like Linnea. I am
Mississauga, ON
thankful because I was the one baby to get picked out of so many
others! I love that I have a family and that I have so many friends. The
best part about being adopted is being loved by everyone. Now I have a
wonderful future to look forward to!
The Sichuan Earthquake Back to China With Yulin
Twelve day trips will be held in March and in April ,
2009. With enough interest, there will be an early July
trip as well.
The trips are designed for school-age children.
Families will visit cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou
and Beijing. Opportunities will be available to visit
orphanage cities and orphanages. Children will
participate in a school half-day hosted by a class of
similar age children. You can see trip stories and a
typical itinerary on our website at
www.familyoutreach.com
Kai Lin (3½ ) Hogue
If you are interested visit our website and let us know
Kingston Ontario
of your preferred travel time, and how many adults and
The earthquake damaged a vast physical and children may be coming.
economic infrastructure – estimates are in the area of
The cost of the inChina portion of the trip will be about
$7B to $8B . Scores of thousands of people were
$2,900 for a couple and about $800 for a child sharing
killed; hundreds of thousands injured, and half a
a room with parents(costs depend on exchange rate) .
million displaced.
This does not include Canada-China airfare and a visit
Reconstruction and relief efforts are ongoing and will to a child’s orphanage.
continue for months and years.
Emma (3½) Carne Many families have expressed their concern for the Lost & Found
Burlington ON earthquake victims. The proceeds of the “Silent A child’s jeans jacket was left at FOI in Ottawa
Auction” at the FOI Annual get-together this summer during the Annual Gathering week. Call to claim.
was about $3,200 which will be given to a CCAA relief
fund devoted to the welfare of children orphaned by For the Asking
the earthquake.
Katie (11) Mason Year of the Rat & Y ear of the Pig paper-cuts.
Kelvinton SK Other families may wish to contribute. FOI will deliver
One Bicycles of Beijing photo CD
any contributions to CCAA during an adoption trip in
late September. We will report more fully on the Recent editions of the newsletter
contributions in the next issue of the newsletter. Globe Spinners in a booklet format.
May 2008 June 2008
In May 2008, LiYan, An & TieJian Carson from Chilliwack BC Tracy Janzen of Saskatoon, SK travelled with 5 other
travelled to China with their parents , Diane & Al Carson (and four families in June 2008 to meet her son, Samuel. This
other families) to meet their new sister, Xiao Yang. LiYan and An was Tracy’s second trip , and she offered this
provided these trip reports.. reflective report.
LiYan’s Report An’s Report Tessa Evan Lillian
Ottawa ON Cornwall PE Victoria, BC
My name is LiYan Carson and I am My favorite part of going to China was playing with
The first time I went to Beijing, my husband and I were adopting our first child, Faith. It was a
seven years old. In May, I traveled to the babies Hannah and Angelica. Baby Hannah
magical time; flying into China, Gotcha Day, the Great Wall and instant parenting in a hotel
China with my family and we had lots lives just about 20 minutes away from my house.
room, albeit a luxurious one, in a country thousands of miles away from home. Faith was
to do. I got to do something that others They are so cute. I also like playing and hanging out
nearly 22 months old and beautiful. We were a part of one of the biggest travel groups FOI had
didn’t get to do. I got sick and went to with Rianne a girl that went to china that was my
ever shepherded to China; 25 families in all. We hooked up at the Vancouver airport and Yulin
a Chinese hospital in Guangzhou age. Actually Rianne and I were adopted on the
and Bob played mama (and papa) duck to us little ducklings and we just followed one another.
where they gave me a needle. After same trip in 1999 and we both got new sisters on
It was such a whirlwind of new experiences that soaking in the subtleties of the Chinese
that I had a big rest and I liked that. I this trip and became great friends. I also really liked
culture was secondary.
also liked buying my cloisonné ring at going to the acrobat show. The people were so
the factory. It is blue. I also like talented and good at doing acrobats. I liked going Angelica Xin Yue Liane Nearly four years later I was off to China, this time to meet and fall in love with a four-old boy
playing with baby Hannah. She lives to the great wall of China. It was so long and so hot Toronto ON Regina SK named Qian-Qian (soon to be Samuel). Marv and I decided that Faith and he would stay home
close to us so we can visit sometimes. but I had lots of fun. I even did a presentation on it and look after the jetlagged pair (Mama and Qian-Qian). Fortunately, my friend Dawn came
Yulin also took us to a restaurant that at school when I got home. I really liked going to with me to help co-parent and provide moral support and much needed luggage and Sam-
had lots of fresh food. There was a see the pandas. They are so cute. I hope they carrying as I had sprained my ankle the week before.
crocodile that so fresh that his body won’t become extinct for a while but at least I have
This time we met up with 5 other families. Five families went to Nanning and the sixth to
was still shaking after his head was a mini statue of a panda. I really liked going
Guangzhou. We were all families from the Waiting Child program and the children ranged
chopped off. shopping I didn’t get to buy lots of things but I had
from nearly 3 years old to 5 years old.
lots of fun shopping. Going to the silk and pearl
I’m TieJian Carson and I am six . I
market was really fun too. I even bought a purse. What a different trip this was from the first! It was still magical, there was still Gotcha Day, the
have a few favourite things about my
Another fun thing was going to the silk market Great Wall was as awe-inspiring as ever but the instant parenting took on a whole new
trip. We saw a fashion show at the silk
because we all saw a fashion show. I love going to meaning when it wasn't a baby or toddler but a full-blooded, bouncy, never stops moving four
factory. We went to a pet market Xiao Yang
China and hope I can go again some time. Caitlin year old. Babies and toddlers present their own unique challenge but shopping and
where I saw cute, Chilliwack, BC Etobicoke ON sightseeing with preschoolers was challenging to say the least. Unlike the first time where I
cute rabbits . When The Carson family at the Wall had a Santa-list of people to buy for, I had to apologize to just about everyone for not bringing
we were there, my Dianne, An & Al any gifts home. Nothing (for me anyways) dampens the shopping fervour than a nervous
mom saw a kitten she XiaoYang , LiYan & TieJian salesperson following you and your jumpy, touchy and charming preschooler everywhere.
wanted to take home.
The hotel we stayed in this time was in a less
My sister Liyan saw a
touristy area of Beijing. As Yulin put it, we saw more
chipmunk that she
of the day to day lives of the people of Beijing.
wanted, too. At the Tracy & Sam shopping
Forbidden City, Mary We could see a hutong (an alley neighbourhood
Lou and Joe took unique to China and quickly disappearing) from out
pictures with us and hotel window and the street life that last night we
their new baby, Hannah Samuel were in Beijing will stay with me forever. O Tracy &
Angelica. I also liked Abbotsford BC Saskatoon SK Marvin Janzen ur farewell dinner was at a renowned
staying in the hotels, restaurant a couple blocks from our hotel. Walking
but it was so sad in the humid, hot air hearing the talking, the
because the TV laughter, the excitement, the sights and smells
showed lots of stuff made the whole experience bittersweet. The
about the poor people knowledge that Qian-Qian (Sam) would be leaving
who were stuck in the this unique, vibrant and mysterious culture that was
earthquake. A lot of so much a part of who he and his sister are. It made
kids and grown ups Dianne, An Al me appreciate, far more than I did on our first trip,
died. We also went to what both my children were losing and with Canada
a zoo. Xiao Yang Li Yan Tie Jian looming before us, what Sam was gaining.
Rachelle, Samuel
Newmarket ON Calgary AB